The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-09-01
An Interesting Convention that did
not Adjourn. but Went out
at the Cry OF Fire.

not AtJonTn. Out w CUT ouI
at the Cry OF Fire.
Tho meeting of the Logan COuR
Gil on Tuesday night of last weel
was characterized by an cxhibliio;
of more ba.i blood than good sense
All the members of the counci
except Price were present.
The minutes of the last meeting
having been read and approved, the
President, Mayor Steinman, called
for reports from village officers.
Thereupoh Mr.. Price, City So!ic
itor, made the following report:
SOLICITOR PRICES STATEMENT,
To the Honorable Council of the Viii
lage OF Logan, Ohio:
GESTLEMEN-As your Solicitor de-
sire, respectfully. to sibmit the follow
ing report for your consideration
Section ITO of the Revised Statutes
Of Ohio, provides SIS follows:
"The Mayor, the President of the
Council, and the Solicitor of the Coz
poration, shall constitutes Board of Re-
vision, which shall meet as often as
once in every month, to review the
proceedings Of the council, and o: all
other departments of the corporation
government, and report to the council
whether any department of such gov
ernment has transcende1 its powers,
whether any officer has neglected his
duties, and whyther any aid what re-
treachment in the expenses of the col
poratioH, and what Improvement in any
department Of the corporation govern
ment, can be made.
The Mayor of this village, who is the
President of its Council, with the Soil
| citor under said statute, constitute the
Board OF Revision, for which provision
is therein made, and should perform
the duties prescribed. | have never
been called upon to act in that capaci-
| ty with the Mayor, and therefore deem
it my duty to make this separate re-
port.
Heretofore there has much irregular
ity. not to say illegslity, in the manner
of the payment of the claims against
the corporation. In many instances
orders have been drawn for such claims
| and the same paid, being first presented
to the Finance Committee of this Ccun-
elf and approved by it. and frequently
without even this fOrmelity, before the
claims we're ever presented to Council
for allowance CT rejection.
This is plainly irregular and Illegal,
and should cease at once. l do not
think the Clerk or Treasurer have been
willlully or Intentionally guilty oi any
wrong in this matter, hut have only fol
lowed custom OF long practice in this
village.
In this connection ! cite section 1893
OF the Revised Statutes.
desire further to call your attention
to section l75l of the Revised Statutes,
which reads as follows:
"Ali fines and forieltures which may be
collected by the mayor, or which may in
any manner come into his hands, ami all
| moneys which may be received by him in
his Official capacity, other than his lees OF
Office, shall be by him paid oyer 10 the
treasury OF the corporation weekIy and
dt Tie EISt InctlinS vi thc CouuCli
in each aud every month, he shall submit
Il full statement of all cuch moneys recciv-
ed, from whom and for what purposes re-
eefped, and when paid over"
This section has evidently been re-
garded as dead lettrr, for since have
be.n Solicitor, there has been no week
ly settlement by the Mayor With the
Treasurer, but the same has only been
made at long intervals; and there has
been not 2 single statement submitted
20 this council or the receipts of fines,
rents, &c, from whon received and .or
what purpose, and when paid over,
| would recommend that the Mayor
be required to submit q full and COM
plete statement OF all money, from
whom received, and for what purpose,
and when paid oyer. that has come to
his hands since april lst, 1857 and
that committee OF two from yonr
body be nam-d to examine said report.
and compare the game with the books
kept by the Mayor, his doekets. de-.
and that hereafter the Mayor peri orm
the duties required by said statute.
Further, the statute, under the head
of Solicitor, defining his duties, &c.
Sec. l7Sl provides az follows:
"He shall receive such stated salary,
payable quarterly out OF the corpora
ton treasury, and such fees or cOmpen-
sa;ion for particular services as the
council may prescribe; and no eddi-
tionai counsel shalt be appointed or
employed at the expanse o. the corpor-
alton, except hy resolution of the
couocil adopted for that purpose, spsci-
flying the case in which such additional
attorney is employed, the reasons there
fore, and may fix the compensation to
be paid"
The Mayor, in disregard of this ex-
press provision OF the statute, has here
tofore employed attorneys other than
the Solicitor to prosecute persons for
violations Uf the village ordinances.-
He has assumed not only the powers OF
Mayor, but usurped and exercised those
belonging to the conncil exclusively
ahd has ignored the Solicitor where the
latter had right to be consulted and
to act fer the village. and refused to
permit him to act. lie has been ex-
ceedingly arbitrary in this conduct and
thereby has caused aspersiOns to te
cast upon my own official conduct. |
therefore recommend and demaud that
this council investigate these matters,
either By committee or as . body, and
that such action be taken at once As is
proper.
Respectfully submitted.
WM. P. PIICE, Solicitor.
Making a verbal report, the So
licitor said chat he had examined
the minutes of the Clerk and fonnl
bill recorded as allowed which had
not been be fore the council.
Rochester-Money orders are ap-
proved by the finance COMMITTEES.
and on the strength of this approx
al are allowed and paid.
SOliciter-l know that has been
the custom, but it Is Illegal.
Rochester-In what cases have
bills been paid Illegally? l don't
know of any bills paid that have
not be en- before :he council.
Solicltor-I say the bills were ap-
proved by the finance comm;ttee
and raid. and after telng paid might